By Fallan Patterson
Staff Writer

Mona Somers nominated her son Matthew and his Eagle Scout project for the Nestle Drumstick Heroes Contest by accident — she was searching for an ice cream coupon.

Matthew Somers, of Kissimmee, is one of 50 youngsters across the nation to win the Nestle Drumstick Heroes Contest for providing outdoor recreation for homeless children at a local facility.

Children staying at Helping Others Make the Effort in Kissimmee can now play basketball and volleyball thanks to Somers and fellow Boy Scouts. The organization works to break the cycle of homelessness by providing housing and life skills to homeless women and their children and can have between 30 and 50 children on campus at a time, according to Mary Downey, deputy director of the social service agency.

“We wanted the kids to have positive things to do. We like our kids to go outside and play,” Downey said.

Somers approached Downey last year about building the basketball and volleyball courts as his Eagle Scout project for Boy Scout Troop 826. Eagle Scout is the Boy Scouts' highest honor and only 5 percent of Scouts receive the award, according to the National Eagle Scouts Association.

Somers, who is 17 years old, worked with local suppliers to have equipment and supplies donated or provided at a low cost. The day the cement for the basketball court was dry, boys were already shooting baskets.

“Obviously, you want to help people in the best way possible,” he said. “There was nothing for the kids to do. As a kid, I can relate.”

With the help of other Scouts, Scout leaders and Scout parents, the basketball court was completed last December and the volleyball court, which required the removal of brush and debris from the land prior to construction, was completed in April.

Somers now spends time stopping by the campus to maintain the courts or fix a fallen volleyball net, something he will do periodically before he attends college next fall. He said he plans to major in aerospace engineering.

Kissimmee Vice Mayor Jerry Gemskie sat on Somers' Eagle Scout board of review and was impressed with his presentation. Gemskie also was a founding member of the board of directors for Helping Others make the Effort.

“When he made his presentation, he was so confident and poised. I see CEO (material) in him,” Gemskie said. “He understands what need is and what needs are in the area and fulfilled the need at HOME (Helping Others Make the Effort).”

The project added to Somers' 250 community service hours, the majority of which he has earned with Boy Scout Troop 826; he said he plans to surpass 300 hours this year.

In addition to his four years with the Boy Scouts, Somers is on the Senior Steering and Student Council at Osceola High School. He also works at a local farm feeding livestock and cleaning the barn.

Somers dual-enrolls at Valencia Community College where he hopes to almost earn enough credits toward an associate degree.

Somers will “age out” of Scouts when he turns 18 in November; he is contemplating becoming a Scoutmaster.

“Scouting has been so good for him,” Mona Somers said of her son. “I was so afraid of him being a boy, but now I have all the confidence that he can take care of himself.”

Boy Scout Troop 826 is based at Trinity Lutheran Church in Kissimmee.